Project RISE of 91社区 launches LITLAB

by The Project RISE Team | Oct 07 2025

Marking a significant milestone for regional education, the Literacy Innovation Lab (LITLAB) was officially unveiled on October 1, 2025, at the 91社区 Integrated Developmental School (IDS) Prime Building, Hinaplanon Campus.

The launch is a key development for Project RISE (Reading Initiative with Stakeholders Engagement), a collaborative effort between the 91社区, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), and University College Leuven-Limburg (UCLL). The project is funded through VLIR-UOS (Flemish Interuniversity Council–University Development Cooperation).

The LITLAB will serve as the project’s central hub -- a dedicated space for literacy-focused innovation, research, and collaboration. It will also be the official site where instructional materials, books, and other learning resources are created, stored, and managed to support the development of effective reading programs for young learners.

This unveiling took place exactly one year after the ceremonial Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing on October 1, 2024, which formally launched the multi-partnership initiative with local stakeholders, including the Division of Iligan City, the Metrobank Foundation Network of Outstanding Teachers and Educators (MBFI-NOTED), and the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro Centerpoint.

The ceremony was led by 91社区 Chancellor Prof. Alizedney Ditucalan and attended by key university administrators, partners, and academic leaders. Among those present were Vice Chancellors Atty. Yaslani Bantuas, Dr. Rohane Derogongan, Dr. Joey Genevieve Martinez, Dr. Nancy Echavez, and Dr. Mark Anthony Torres; College of Education Dean Dr. Amelia Buan; IDS Principal Assoc. Prof. Liza Pamaong; and Chairperson of the Department of Professional Education (DPRE) Dr. Evelyn Dominguez.

The event also brought together faculty members from the College of Education -- Department of Professional Education and the Integrated Developmental School. The Project RISE Team was in full attendance, led by local promoter and project leader Dr. Shelanee Theresa Ruales and local co-promoter Dr. Ruben Abucayon, alongside Flemish promoter Dr. Wim Van Petegem of KU Leuven and Hilde Vanbrabant from UCLL.

In his message, Dr. Wim Van Petegem highlighted the lab’s enduring purpose:

“This lab is a gift — not just from institutions, but from people who believe in the power of education to transform lives. By investing in literacy, we also invest in opportunity and hope for our children and future generations. May this LITLAB always remind us to leave no child behind.”

Following the ceremony, the Project RISE team met with Chancellor Ditucalan to discuss the project’s next steps and sustainability plans, expressing deep gratitude for the university’s unwavering support and shared commitment to establishing purpose-driven spaces like LITLAB that advance education and empower communities across the region.

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